The forthcoming iPad 3 is referred to in a new release of the Apple tablet’s iOS operating system, Apple blogs have reported.

Rumours suggest that a new iPad could launch in March Photo: AP

By Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor

The discovery has added to rumours that the iPad 3 will launch in March and feature a fractionally thicker design and a significantly higher resolution display.

In a list of devices in the new iOS 5.1 software, ‘iPad3,3’ is referenced, with further references to the software calling for its ‘vendorID’, ‘deviceID’ and other details.

Elsewhere in the new code, blog 9to5mac claims a reference to iPad 2,4 could be about a version of the current iPad 2 with either a version of next-generation network LTE or WiMax technology.

Apple is reported to be working on two different prototypes for the iPad 3, and is also examining the possibility of a smaller 7.85” version as well.

Analyst Richard Shim told CNET that Samsung, Sharp and LGD are all working on a high resolution screen in the style of the 4S’s ‘retina display. He claimed it would be QXGA, with a resolution of 2048x1536.